Frits Bolkestein

Prime Minister Mark Rutte is not available to succeed Donald Tusk when his term as EU president ends next year, the Prime Minister said on Friday, NOS reports

On Friday morning Rutte's VVD colleague Frits Bolkestein said to the Volkskrant that Rutte would do well to succeed Tusk. According to the former European Commissioner, it is in the interests of the Netherlands for Rutte to accept this "crucial function" in the European Union. He also said that Rutte as "binding figure" has the capacity to fill this difficult role

A new parallel currency alongside the euro should be established for creditworthy countries like the Netherlands and Germany. The 80-year-old VVD celebrity Frits Bolkestein declared this in the TV program Pauw & Witteman on Wednesday night.

“France may not participate in the parallel currency,” according to the former leader of the VVD, “because the country is virtually bankrupt and not managed well.” The plans for the currency (e.g., the mark) for the creditworthy countries will have to come from the German Bundesbank.